Tripod drill support



May 30, 1967 Filed Jan. 15, 1965 c. THOMPSON 3,322,378

TRIPOD DRILL SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet l O l I INVENTOR. CHARLES T.THOMPSON y 30, 1967 c. T. THOMPSON 3,322,378

TRIPOD DRILL SUPPORT 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1965 Tat- INVENTOR.CHARLES T. THOMPSON BY M46 United States Brent fifice 3,322,378 PatentedMay 30, 1967 This invention relates to a drilling device and moreparticularly to an adjustable, mobile, tripod support for a rock drillor the like used for producing bores in earth strata.

In the field of earth boring it is well known to mount a drilling deviceon an upwardly extending derrick or tower supported by and renderedmovable over a surface by a suitable crawler base.

Such devices have served the purpose but have not been entirelysatisfactory because the attitude of the derrick with relation to theearths surface was, to a greater or lesser degree, dependent upon thepositioning of the crawler carriage so that when the device arrived atthe location where drilling was desired it was necessary to use levelingjacks or other devices to position the derrick in relation to the groundsurface to bore a hole at the desired angle with relation to thehorizontal. Some prior art devices made provisions for lowering thederrick while traversing rough terrain since, for instance, traversing aside hill with the derrick extending upwardly at a fixed angle to thecrawler support could cause the derrick to overbalance the crawlersupport and cause it to be overturned with consequent damage and delayin operation.

The tripod mounting of the present invention provides for a derricknormally upwardly extending from a crawler support but universallypivotable with relation thereto so that when the crawler support arrivesat the location Where boring is desired a simple adjustment of the anglebetween the crawler support and the derrick will produce the angularadjustment of the derrick to horizontal for the production of a borehole at the desired angle to the horizontal with no necessity forleveling jacks or other devices to be applied to the crawler support tochange its attitude with respect to the horizontal. Since the derrick isuniversally pivotally adjustable with respect to the crawler support aside hill traverse may be made with the derrick in a vertical positionmerely by adjusting the tripod support to keep the derrick substantiallyvertical regardless of the position assumed by the crawler support.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved drilling device.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedtripod mounting for a drilling device which mounting renders thedrilling device universally pivotally adjustable with relation to acrawler support.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide a new and improvedtripod mounting for a drilling device wherein one of the tripod membersis an upwardly extending longitudinal feedable boom mounted on atrunnion universally pivotably secured to a crawler device andadjustably supported by a pair of angularly disposed extensiblecylinders provided with suitable controlled amounts of pressure fluid toadjust the angular relationship of the drilling device to the groundsurface.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent upon consideration of the following descriptionand drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a tripod mounting for a rock drillconstructed according to the principles of this invention and includingdot and dash line representations of fragmentary portions of the tripodmounting in various adjusted positions;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tripod mounting of FIG. 1 alsoincluding dot and dash line representations of fragmentary portions ofthe device in various adjusted positions with respect to the solid linefigure;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 ofFIG. 1

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional view taken substantially on line 44 ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a drilling device 10 constructedaccording to the principles of this invention having a derrick or towerassembly 12 supported and rendered movable over a surface by a crawlersupport 14 of a type well known in the art.

The crawler support 14 has a main frame 16 pivotably connected to andsupported by a pair of independently pivotable crawlers 18 as moreparticularly described and illustrated in copending application Ser. No.346,500, filed Feb. 21, 1964 (now US. Patent No. 3,335,849), whichapplication is assigned to the same assignee as is this application. Thecrawler support 14 is suitably powered by electric or fluid operatedmotors (not shown) in a manner well known in the art.

In the following description the front of the device will be taken asthe portion to the left in FIG. 2 with a corresponding rearwarddirection to the right in FIG. 2 while the directions up and down willbe determined in relation to a substantially horizontal surface 20 suchas the surface of the earth upon which the crawlers rest.

A pair of laterally spaced generally horizontal, elongated, rectanuglarside members 22 of the main frame 16 extend forwardly and inwardly ofthe main frame 16 from a rearward portion thereof to a forward portionof the drilling device 10 and have portions upwardly and inwardlyextending to form a support for the tower 12. The forward portions ofthe side members 22 have flat generally horizontal top end surfaces onwhich are removably mounted a pair of pillow block members 24 secured tothe respective top surfaces of the upwardly and inwardly projectingportions of the side members 22 as by threaded retaining elements suchas cap screws (not shown) and hav ing aligned bores 26 therethroughextending to rotatably receive and support coaxial cylindrical endportions 28 of a gimbal member 30. The gimbal member 30 comprises theaforementioned cylindrical end portions 28 and a formed intermediateportionseparating and rigidly securing the cylindrical end portions 28and having a transverse bore 32 therethrough with an axis normal to theaxis of the cylindrical end portions 28 for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed.

An elongated upwardly extending trunnion member 34 comprises anelongated square tubular member 36 and a pair of generally rectangularflatplate mounting members 38 and 39, upper and lower respectively,rigidly secured in forwardly spaced relationship with the upper andlower ends of the tubular element 36, respectively, by a plurality ofgenerally triangular gusset members 40 and a channel element 41 rigidlysecured to the mounting members 38 and 39, respectively, and the tubularelement 36 as by welding. The lower mounting member 39 extendsdownwardly beyond the bottom end of the tubular element 36 and isaligned with and forwardly spaced from a similarly downwardly extendinggenerally rectangular flat plate mounting element 42. The lower mountingmember 39 and the mounting element 42 have aligned bores in theirdownwardly extending portions below the tubular element 36 and havecaptively secured therein a elongated cylindrical pin 43 extendingthrough the bore 32 of the gimbal member 30, which pin 43 is rotatablyreceived within the bore 32 so that the trunnion member 34 isuniversally pivotably secured to the frame 16 and the crawler support14.

The trunnion member 34 is adjustably supported by a pair of fluidoperated elongated extensible cylinders 4'7 and 49, right hand and lefthand tower cylinders respectively, universally pivotably secured torearward portions of the side members 22 at points 44 and 45respectively, transversely aligned on an axis normal to the longitudinalcenterline of the frame 16 and equidistant from that centerline (seeFIG. The tower cylinders 47 and 49 are additionally universallypivotably secured to transversely spaced upper portions of the trunnionmember 34 downwardly adjacent the upper end of member 34 to form two legelements of the tripod support of this invention of which tripod thetrunnion member 34 is the third leg.

An elongated drill guide frame 48 of a type well known in the art isslidably secured to the mounting members 38 and 39 as by elongated clampplates 50 rigidly removably secured to the mounting members 38 and 39 asby threaded retaining members such as bolts and nuts (not shown). Afluid operated extensible cylinder 52 of which only the rod member isshown, is mounted within the tubular element 36 with the rod memberupwardly emergent therefrom and pivotably secured to an upper rearwardportion of the drill guide frame 48 so that suitable control of thepressure fluid supplied to the guide frame cylinder 52 causing thecylinder 52 to extend or contract controls longitudinal movement of theguide frame 48 with respect to the trunnion member 34 in a well knownmanner. On the forward face of the drill guide frame 48 there is mounteda suitable tool operating power means 54 for rotary or rotary percussiveactuation of an elongated drill steel 56 secured to the actuatingelements of the power means 54 and extending downwardly therefromthrough a centralizer 58 and having a drilling element such as a drillbit 61) rigidly secured to the lower end thereof. The power means 54 isslideably or otherwise mounted on the guide frame 48 for longitudinalmovement therealong to feed the drill bit 60 in the usual manner whichmovement is provided for by any well known means such as a feed motor 63mounted on an intermediate portion of the guide frame 4-8. A conductortraining and tensioning sheeve 62 is slideably or otherwise suitablymounted on the upper end portion of the guide frame 48 to guide andmaintain tension in electrical conductors or fluid conducting flexiblemembers which provide operating energy to the power means 54 and areconnected thereto.

The extensible cylinders 47, 49 and 52 are suitably provided withsuitable amounts of pressure fluid from a source of such pressure fluidsuitably controlled by valves (not shown) in a well known maner.

In FIG. 2 there is shown in dot and dash outline a mobile power unit 64provided with power means such as an internal combustion engine andsuitable generator, pumps and tanks to supply pressurized fluid orelectric energy to the various components of the drilling device 10 andadditionally connected thereto as by a tongue 65 for extended trammingof the drilling device 10 which provides motive force to the power unit64 through operation of the crawlers 18 as is known. As a further aid toextensive tramming, retraction of the tower cylinders 47 and 49 followedby retraction of the guide frame cylinder 52 will bring the tower 12into the substantially horizontal position shown in dot dash outline andindicated as 12' in FIG. 2 to improve the stability of drilling device10 and avoid constant adjustment and readjustment of the cylinders 47and 49 to keep the tower 12 substantially vertical while traversinguneven terrain. However, such lowering of the tower 12 to the position12 will not be necessary in moving comparatively short distances as fromone desired bore hole location to the next such location in a relativelyconfined area of operation.

The operation of the drilling device 10 includes tramming to the placeof desired bore hole formation with the tower in the position 12 andthereafter extending guide frame cylinder 52 to slide the guide framerearwardly along the trunnion member 34 and thereafter extending towercylinders 47 and 49 simultaneously to the extent necessary to bring thetrunnion member 34 into upright position as shown in FIG. 2. After theupright position is achieved, suitable retraction of the guide framecylinder 52 brings the guide frame into contact with the surface 20 tostabilize the device 10 during operation of the drill 60 in forming thedesired bore hole. The actual drilling operation is a conventional onein which the power means 54 actuates the drill steel 56 and consequentlythe bit 60 in either rotary or rotary percussive action whilesimultaneously the feed motor 63 suitably connected to the power means54 moves the power means 54 downwardly along the guide frame 48 in amanner well known in the art. The unique operation of the device 10 ofthis invention resides in the universal pivotable connection of thetrunnion member 34 to the frame 16 by way of the gimbal member 39. Whenit is desired to drill a vertical hole at a side hill or otherwisesloping location simultaneous shortening of one of the tower cylinders47 or 49 and lengthening of the other of the tower cylinders can swingthe top of the tower to the left or right as shown in the broken linefragmentary representations as shown in FIG. 1. If necessary, furthersimultaneous adjustment of the tower cylinders 47 and 49 can be used togive a forward inclination of the tower 12 relative to the surface 2%)on which the crawler supports 14 rest as shown in dot dash outline andindicated as 12" in the left hand portion of FIG. 2. By oppositeoperation of the cylinders 47 and 49 a backward inclination of the tower12 intermediate between the position shown solid in FIG. 2 and thatshown substantially horizontal and indicated as 12 in dot and dashoutline in FIG. 2 can be achieved. Thus it will be seen that a verticalhole can be drilled regardless of the inclination of the surface onwhich the crawler 14 happens to be situated or bore holes at variousangles to the horizontal can be drilled if so desired.

When a bore hole has been completed and it is desired to move to a newlocation within a restricted area of operation suitable activation ofguide frame cylinder 52 extends the rod end sufficiently to raise theguide frame 48 to a position such as that shown in FIG. 1 with the guideframe and drill bit upwardly spaced from the surface 20. If the tower 12is already vertical activation of the crawler 14 can be started at onceto move the drilling device 10 to the new location; however, since theinclination of the surface 20 to the horizontal will most probablychange as the tramming continues more or less continuous adjustment ofthe cylinders 47 and 49 can be used to maintain the vertical attitude ofthe tower 12 by adjustment both transversely and longitudinally of thepath of travel so that there is no danger of overturning the device 10due to the slanting of the surface 20 in either of these directions.This adjustment being power operated and remotely controlled as byvalves mounted in some convenient place either on the device 10 itselfor on the power unit 64 no interruption of the trannning will benecessary and lowering of the tower into the position 12' can bedispensed with. When the new location for a desired bore hole is reacheda final adjustment of the cylinders 47 and 49 will bring the tower 12into desired attitude with respect to the horizontal and retraction ofthe guide frame cylinder 52 bringing the guide frame into contact withthe earths surface is all that is necessary to prepare for drilling thenext bore hole.

It is to be appreciated that use of the tripod mounting of applicantsinvention obviates the need for leveling jacks or other means ofadjusting the attitude of the crawler 14 such as is commonly necessaryin the operation of any tower type drilling apparatus of the prior art.

It is further to be appreciated that the ease and rapidity of adjustmentof the attitude of the tower 12 results in time saving in achievingcorrect orientation of the drill with respect to the ground surface andfurthermore avoids the danger of overturn common to structures as tallas this which are mobile.

It is to be further noted that although this invention has beendescribed with relation to a particular embodi- Inent wherein a gimbalmember having intersecting axes is employed that other means ofaccomplishing the universally pivotable connection between the trunnionmember 34 and the main frame 16 are within the scope of applicantsinvention.

The preferred embodiment of applicants invention having herein beendescribed and illustrated it is to be realized that other embodiments ofapplicants invention are within the scope of this invention. It istherefore respectfully requested that the claims appended hereto beinterpreted as broadly as possible and be limited only by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. A tripod support for a drilling device comprising: a mobile supporthaving an elongated generally horizontal frame; an elongated trunnionmember having a bottom end thereof universally pivotably mounted on aforward portion of said frame and extending upwardly therefrom; a pairof extensible leg members having respective one ends universallypivotably secured to rearward portions of said frame transversely spacedfrom each other, other ends of said leg members being universallypivotably secured to said trunnion member at points upwardly spaced fromsaid frame; an elongated guide frame means for slidably mounting saidguide frame on said trunnion memher for longitudinal movementtherealong.

2. A tripod support for a drilling device comprising: a generallyhorizontal frame; an elongated trunnion member having its lower enduniversally pivotably mounted on said frame at a given portion of saidframe and extending up wardly therefrom; a pair of extensible legmembers having respective one ends universally pivotably secured toportions of said frame spaced from each other and from said bivenportion, other ends of said leg members being universally pivotablysecured to said trunnion member at points upwardly spaced from saidframe; an elongated guide frame; means for slidably mounting said guideframe on said trunnion member for longitudinal movement therealong;drill actuating first power means movably mounted on said guide framefor longitudinal movement along said guide frame; and second power meansmounted on said guide frame for moving said first power means.

3. A tripod support as specified in claim ll wherein said pointsupwardly spaced from said frame are located on the upper portion of saidportion of said trunnion memher.

4. A tripod support as specified in claim 1 wherein said guide frame isat least twice as long as said trunnion member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,747,869 2/1930 Hansen 24 8--13X 2,044,880 6/1936 Grove et a1 17343 2,661,189 12/1953 Gillerstrom 173433,045,771 7/1962 Curtis 173-22 X 3,117,756 1/1964 Wensing et al 248-16CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner, JOHN PE'FO, Examiner,

1. A TRIPOD SUPPORT FOR A DRILLING DEVICE COMPRISING: A MOBILE SUPPORTHAVING AN ELONGATED GENERALLY HORIZONTAL FRAME; AN ELONGATED TRUNNIONMEMBER HAVING A BOTTOM END THEREOF UNIVERSALLY PIVOTABLY MOUNTED ON AFORWARD PORTION OF SAID FRAME AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM; A PAIROF EXTENSIBLE LEG MEMBERS HAVING RESPECTIVE ONE ENDS UNIVERSALLYPIVOTABLY SECURED TO REARWARD PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME TRANSVERSELY SPACEDFROM EACH OTHER, OTHER ENDS OF SAID LEG MEMBERS BEING UNIVERSALLYPIVOTABLY SECURED TO SAID TRUNNION MEMBER AT POINTS UPWARDLY SPACED FROMSAID FRAME; AN ELONGATED GUIDE FRAME MEANS FOR SLIDABLY MOUNTING SAIDGUIDE FRAME ON SAID TRUNNION MEMBER FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENTTHEREALONG.